Dispensing device



June 12, 1934. J FRlER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1930 JA/ l E/V70)? L706 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT or ice 3 Claims.

My invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly todispensing devices for ribbons of diflerent materials.

Heretofore the dispensing of ribbons and particularly ribbons of narrowwidths has been more or less unprofitable in small stores because thetime required to sell a few yards of ribbon was comparatively great andyet the sale price of the ribbon was small. If ribbon of cloth, elasticor similar material was being dispensed the customer usually wanted tomake a choice of different widths and different colors. Then after thechoice had been made by the customer the salesperson had to measure andremove the desired amount from the card upon which the ribbon was woundand then by a separate operation out the desired ribbon from the ribbonremaining on the card.

The object of this invention is to provide a unitary and self-containeddispensing device for ribbons of various materials.

A simple embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawingwherein similar characters are used to designate similar parts: Fig. 1shows the dispensing device in perspective; Figs. 2 and 3 are front andside elevations, respectively; Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4--4in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures a dispensing device shown therein comprises acasing 1 which may be open at its top as shown and in which a pluralityof spools 2 adapted to receive the ribbon 3 to be dispensed ashereinafter described are rotatably mounted on a shaft 4 extendingbetween side walls of the casing. The shaft 4 preferably has a nut 5threaded on one end thereof and which may be loosened to allow the shaftto be withdrawn for the purpose of inserting new spools 2 in the casingas needed. The front wall of the casing 1 or, that is, the wall overwhich the rib bon 3 is drawn from the spools 2 when it is dispensed, hasa cutter 6 fixed to the upper edge thereof. This cutter may be of anysuitable form, but in the embodiment of my invention shown in thedrawing consists of a cutting blade 7 arranged between side plates 8which are fixed by rivets 9 or any other suitable means to the wall ofthe casing. The plates 8 are shaped with an overhanging guard portion 10to form a notch in the bottom of which is arranged the cutting edge ofthe blade 7. The plates 8 also are formed to provide a guiding portionor edge indicated at 11 having one end thereof leading into the notchand to the blade and the other end thereof merging into the upper edgeof the wall of the casing, all as particularly shown in Fig. 2 and forthe purpose hereinafter described.

In this embodiment of my invention the ribbon 3 on the different spools2 is of different widths and I prefer that the ribbon have thereonindicia as indicated at 12 whereby predetermined lengths are indicated.For instance, this indicia may be arranged at every yard along theribbon as ribbon of narrow width is usually sold in lengths of a yard ormultiples thereof. The indicia 12 may be placed on the ribbon in variousways and may be of various types. It may be printed in ink on the ribbonand it may be in the form of thin clips of metal pressed onto theribbon. However, I prefer that the indicia be formed, as shown in thedrawing, by a thin line of wax or other material which is fluid whenap-, plied, but which hardens after application and becomes brittle sothat it may be removed easily by the purchaser of the ribbon. Sometimesribbon may be used after purchase in a manner that would render theindicia visible, but if the preferred form of indicia is used it may beremoved as outlined before the ribbon is used.

The use of my dispensing device is as follows: If the casing is open atits top the customer may easily examine the ribbon on the spoolstherein. to make a selection of the ribbon desired. After selection hasbeen made the clerk draws the desired amount of ribbon 3 as indicated bythe indicia 12 from the spools 2. When the desired.

amount of ribbon has been drawn from the cas-- ing the ribbon is movedalong the upper edge of. the wall of the casing and as it is so moved itwill engage the portion 11 of the cutter 6 and will be guidedautomatically into the notch of the cutter and to the cutting blade 7where the desired amount of ribbon will be cut from the ribbon remainingon the spool 2 in the casing.

It is readily seen that with the use of my dispensing device a sale ofribbon is easily made and the parts of the device combine in a definitemanner to accomplish this result. While I have shown one embodiment ofmy invention in the drawing it is to be understood that the variousparts may be changed in arrangement and construction without deviatingfrom the spirit of my invention as included in the claims set forthbelow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A dispensing device for ribbon comprising in combination a casing, ashaft extending between the side walls of said casing, a spool rotatsolf 9TH? I whereby when said ribbon is moved along said edge it will beguided to said blade to be cut.

2. A dispensingdevicefor ribbon comprising in combination a casing, ashaft extending from the side Walls of said casing, a plurality ofspools mounted on said shaft and each arranged to re? ceive a differentwidth of ribbon to be dispensed, one of the walls of said casingpresenting an edge over which said ribbon is drawn, and a cutter mountedon said edge, said cutter having a notch formed therein and comprising ablade positioned in said notch and a guiding portion having one endthereof leading into said notch and the other end merging into said edgewhereby when said ribbon is moved along said edge it will be guided intosaid notch to be out by said blade.

3. A dispensing device for ribbon comprising in combination a casingopen at its top, a spool rotatably mounted in said casing and arrangedto receive ribbon to be dispensed whereby said ribbon may be drawn fromsaid casing, and a cutter mounted on the upper edge of one of the wallsof said casing, said cutter comprising a blade and a guiding portionhaving one end thereof leading to said blade and the other end merginginto the upper edge of said wall whereby when said ribbon is moved alongsaid edge it will be guided to said blade to be cut.

JOHN FRIER.

